Biographies

Mr. Stephen A. Tullman is the Chairman of the Board of the Company. Mr. Tullman co-founded NeXeption, Inc., a biopharmaceutical assets management company, in May 2011 and its affiliated entity NeXeption, LLC in August 2012 and currently serves as the managing member of NeXeption, LLC and certain of its affiliates. He previously served as Chairman, President and Chief Executive Officer of Ceptaris Therapeutics, Inc., a biopharmaceutical company, from May 2011 until its acquisition by Actelion US Holdings Company, a subsidiary of Actelion Ltd, in September 2013. Mr. Tullman served as Chairman of Vicept Therapeutics, Inc. from 2009 until its acquisition by Allergan, Inc. in July 2011. In 2005, Mr. Tullman co-founded Ception Therapeutics, Inc. and served as its President and Chief Executive Officer until its acquisition by Cephalon, Inc. in 2010. In 2003, Mr. Tullman co-founded Trigenesis Therapeutics, Inc., where he served as its Chief Business Officer (acquired by Dr. Reddy's Laboratories Inc.) Mr. Tullman began his career at SmithKline Beecham, a pharmaceutical company, where he held positions of increasing responsibility in finance, sales, marketing, and research and development. Mr. Tullman currently serves as the chairman of the board of directors of Ralexar Therapeutics, Inc., a specialty dermatology company, and on the boards of directors of several other privately held companies. Mr. Tullman received a B.S. degree in Accounting from Rutgers University. Our Board believes that Mr. Tullman's leadership, executive, managerial and business experience with several life sciences companies qualify him to serve as a director of our company.

Dr. Neal Walker is President, Chief Executive Officer and Director of Aclaris Therapeutics, Inc. Dr. Walker co-founded NeXeption, LLC in August 2012. Between July 2011 and July 2012, Dr. Walker served as a consultant to a number of pharmaceutical companies. Dr. Walker co-founded and served as President and Chief Executive Officer and a member of the board of directors of Vicept Therapeutics, Inc., a dermatology-focused specialty pharmaceutical company, from 2009 until its acquisition by Allergan, Inc. in July 2011. Previously, Dr. Walker co-founded and led a number of life science companies, including Octagon Research Solutions, Inc., a software and services provider to biopharmaceutical companies (acquired by Accenture plc), Trigenesis Therapeutics, Inc., a specialty dermatology company, where he served as Chief Medical Officer (acquired by Dr. Reddy's Laboratories Inc.), and Cutix Inc., a commercial dermatology company. He began his pharmaceutical industry career at Johnson and Johnson, Inc. Dr. Walker is a director of Alderya Therapeutics, Inc., a publicly held biotechnology company, as well as several private biotechnology companies. Dr. Walker received his M.B.A. degree from The Wharton School, University of Pennsylvania, his Doctor of Osteopathic Medicine degree from the Philadelphia College of Osteopathic Medicine and a B.A. degree in Biology from Lehigh University. Dr. Walker's experience as a board-certified dermatologist and the founder of our company and other pharmaceutical companies, his background in clinical and product development in dermatology and other fields, and his knowledge of the pharmaceutical industry contributed to the conclusion of our Board that he should serve as a director of our company.

Mr. Frank Ruffo is Chief Financial Officer and Secretary of the Company. From January 2014 to December 2015, Mr. Ruffo served part-time as a financial consultant at Ralexar Therapeutics, Inc., a specialty dermatology company. Mr. Ruffo also served part-time as the Chief Financial Officer of VenatoRx Pharmaceuticals Inc., a pharmaceutical company, from October 2011 to November 2014 and the Chief Financial Officer of BioLeap, Inc. from January 2010 to January 2013. Prior to joining our company, Mr. Ruffo co-founded and served as Chief Financial Officer of Vicept Therapeutics, Inc. from 2009 until its acquisition by Allergan, Inc. in July 2011. Prior to joining Vicept Therapeutics, Inc., from 1996 to 2008, Mr. Ruffo served as the Vice President, Finance and Controller of CollaGenex Pharmaceuticals, Inc. He is a certified public accountant in Pennsylvania (inactive since 2008). Mr. Ruffo received his B.S. degree in Accounting from LaSalle University.

Mr. Christopher Powala is Chief Operating Officer of the Company. He co-founded our company and has served as our Chief Operating Officer since our inception in July 2012. Since January 2014, Mr. Powala has served part-time as a regulatory consultant at Ralexar Therapeutics, Inc., a specialty dermatology company. Between July 2011 and July 2012, Mr. Powala served as a consultant to a number of pharmaceutical companies. Mr. Powala co-founded and served as Chief Operating Officer of Vicept Therapeutics, Inc. from 2009 until its acquisition by Allergan, Inc. in July 2011. Prior to joining Vicept Therapeutics, Inc., from 2008 to 2009, he served as Vice President, Clinical Operations & Global Regulatory Affairs for Vital Therapies, Inc., a biotechnology company. From 1993 to 2008, Mr. Powala was with CollaGenex Pharmaceuticals, Inc, a dermatology-focused specialty pharmaceutical company, where he served as Vice President, Drug Development and Regulatory Affairs. Previously, Mr. Powala also held various positions in product development and regulatory affairs at Wyeth Laboratories, Inc. Mr. Powala received his bachelor's degree in Biology from State University of New York-Regents College.

Mr. Stuart D. Shanler is Chief Scientific Officer of the Company. He co-founded our company and has served as our Chief Scientific Officer since our inception in July 2012. Since January 2014, Dr. Shanler has served part-time as a medical and clinical development consultant at Ralexar Therapeutics, Inc., a specialty dermatology company. Between July 2011 and July 2012, Dr. Shanler served as a consultant to a number of pharmaceutical companies. Dr. Shanler co-invented a topical rosacea drug for, and co-founded and served as Chief Scientific Officer of, Vicept Therapeutics, Inc. from 2009 until its acquisition by Allergan, Inc. in July 2011. Previously, Dr. Shanler was a dermatologic surgeon in private practice. Dr. Shanler is a board-certified dermatologist and received his M.D. degree from Albany Medical College of Union University and received B.S. degrees in Biology and the Biological Basis of Behavior from the University of Pennsylvania.

Ms. Kamil Ali-Jackson is Chief Legal Officer of the Company. She co-founded our company and has served as our Chief Legal Officer since our inception in July 2012. Ms. Ali-Jackson also serves as Chief Compliance Officer and Secretary. In addition, since May 2011, Ms. Ali-Jackson has served as the Chief Legal Officer of NeXeption, Inc. and certain of its affiliates. From January 2014 to December 2015, Ms. Ali-Jackson served part-time as the Chief Legal Officer of Ralexar Therapeutics, Inc., a specialty dermatology company. From May 2011 until its acquisition by Actelion US Holdings Company, a subsidiary of Actelion Ltd., in September 2013, Ms. Ali-Jackson served as Chief Legal Officer, Chief Compliance Officer and Secretary of Ceptaris Therapeutics, Inc., a biotechnology company. From October 2010 to September 2011, she was a consultant to a private specialty pharmaceutical company. From 2006 to May 2010, she served as General Counsel and Secretary of Ception Therapeutics, Inc., a biotechnology company that was acquired by Cephalon, Inc. Previously, Ms. Ali-Jackson served as legal counsel and a licensing business executive for a number of pharmaceutical companies, including Merck & Co., Inc., Dr. Reddy's Laboratories Inc. and Endo Pharmaceuticals, Inc. Ms. Ali-Jackson received her J.D. degree from Harvard Law School and A.B. degree in Politics from Princeton University.

Mr. Richard A. Bierly is an Independent Director of the Company. From March 2014 until April 2016, Mr. Bierly served as the chief financial officer of Medivation, Inc., a publicly traded biopharmaceutical company. Mr. Bierly retired from Medivation in July 2016, after which he remained a consultant until September 2016. Mr. Bierly served as an executive director in Ernst & Young LLP's Financial Accounting Advisory Services practice for life sciences and other clients from September 2013 to March 2014, where he provided advisory services in connection with finance function transformations. From 1999 to 2012, he served in several leadership roles at Johnson & Johnson, including from August 2010 to 2012 as vice president, global finance services, where he was responsible for a New Jersey-based shared services center providing financial accounting services to Johnson & Johnson’s U.S.-based operating companies. At Johnson & Johnson, Mr. Bierly also served as vice president, finance of Centocor, Inc., and as vice president, finance, of Ortho Biotech LP, both subsidiaries of Johnson & Johnson. Mr. Bierly received his Bachelor of Business Administration degree from Pennsylvania State University and is a certified public accountant in Pennsylvania (inactive) and New Jersey (inactive). Mr. Bierly currently serves on board of directors of Impax Laboratories, Inc., a publicly held specialty pharmaceutical company. Our Board believes that Mr. Bierly's financial acumen and substantial biotechnology industry experience qualify him to serve as a director of our company.

Mr. William D. Humphries is an Independent Director of the Company. He has served as a member of our Board since September 2016. Since January 2017, he has served as Executive Vice President, Company Group Chairman for Dermatology of Valeant Pharmaceuticals, Inc. From March 2012 to December 2016, he served as President and Chief Executive Officer of the North American business of Merz, Inc., an affiliate of Merz Pharma Group, a specialty healthcare company. From 2006 to March 2012, Mr. Humphries served in a number of leadership positions with Stiefel Laboratories, Inc., a dermatology pharmaceutical company, including as its Chief Commercial Officer and then as President beginning in 2008. Stiefel was acquired by GlaxoSmithKline in 2009, after which Mr. Humphries served as the President of Dermatology for Stiefel from 2009 until March 2012. Mr. Humphries previously held multiple senior executive roles in sales and marketing, business development and international marketing for Allergan, Inc., concluding as Vice President of its U.S. skincare business. Mr. Humphries currently serves on the board of directors of Clearside Biomedical, Inc., a publicly held biopharmaceutical company. He holds a B.A. degree from Bucknell University and an M.B.A. degree from Pepperdine University.

Dr. Anand Mehra, M.D. is an Independent Director of the Company. Dr. Mehra joined Sofinnova Ventures, a venture capital firm, in 2007 and currently serves as a general partner. Prior to joining Sofinnova, Dr. Mehra worked in J.P. Morgan's private equity and venture capital group, and before that, Dr. Mehra was a consultant in McKinsey & Company's pharmaceutical practice. Dr. Mehra currently serves on the boards of directors of the publicly held companies Spark Therapeutics, Inc., Aerie Pharmaceuticals, Inc. and Marinus Pharmaceuticals, Inc., as well as several private companies. Dr. Mehra received his B.A. degree in political philosophy from the University of Virginia and an M.D. degree from Columbia University's College of Physicians and Surgeons. Our Board believes that Dr. Mehra’s extensive experience in the life sciences industry, his service on the boards of directors of other public life sciences companies and his extensive leadership experience qualify him to serve as a director of our company.

Mr. Andrew Kenneth William Powell serves as Independent Director of the Company. Mr. Powell served as Senior Vice President, General Counsel and Corporate Secretary of Medivation, Inc. from May 2015 until November 2016, when the company was acquired by Pfizer, Inc. Mr. Powell served as Executive Vice President, General Counsel and Corporate Secretary of InterMune, Inc. from September 2013 to March 2015. From 2009 to 2013, he served as Executive Vice President, General Counsel and Secretary at Cornerstone Therapeutics, Inc. From 2008 to 2009, Mr. Powell served as Senior Vice President and General Counsel at ImClone Systems, Inc. From 2004 to 2008, he was General Counsel at Collagenex Pharmaceuticals, Inc. Earlier in his career, Mr. Powell held positions of increasing responsibility for nearly 15 years at the multi-national healthcare company Baxter International, Inc., where he was instrumental in a series of transactions that established Baxter throughout Asia. Mr. Powell holds a Bachelor of Arts degree from the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill and a J.D. from Stanford Law School. Our Board believes that Mr. Powell’s unique expertise in the areas of commercialization strategy, expansion (both domestic and international), governance, compliance and mergers and acquisitions qualifies him to serve as a director of our company.

Dr. Andrew N. Schiff is Independent Director of the company. He joined Aisling Capital in September of 1999 and currently serves as one of the firm’s managing partners. Prior to joining Aisling Capital, Dr. Schiff practiced internal medicine for six years at The New York Presbyterian Hospital, where he maintains his position as a Clinical Assistant Professor of Medicine. Dr. Schiff served as a director of ZELTIQ Aesthetics, Inc., a publicly held medical technology company, from 2010 until its acquisition by Allergan plc in May 2017. He also served on the board of directors of Agile Therapeutics, Inc., a publicly held women's health specialty pharmaceutical company, from 2012 until February 2016. Dr. Schiff currently serves as a director of a number of private companies. He is a longtime supporter and board member of the Visiting Nurse Service of New York, as well as other charitable organizations. Dr. Schiff received his M.D. from Cornell University Medical College, his M.B.A. from Columbia University, and his B.S. with honors in Neuroscience from Brown University.

Related Topics:

Reuters, the news and media division of Thomson Reuters, is the world’s largest international multimedia news provider reaching more than one billion people every day. Reuters provides trusted business, financial, national, and international news to professionals via Thomson Reuters desktops, the world's media organizations, and directly to consumers at Reuters.com and via Reuters TV. Learn more about Thomson Reuters products: